Depends on the Masdevallia. Several Masdevallia rebloom from the same spike. Masd. tovarensis and most of its hybrids come to mind right away. I follow the same rule for these as for all my orchids: don't cut it if it's still green.

Julie

Yup, I've got one that'll bloom up to four times per spike. It's the best.

As Julie said, leave it until it's brown. :)

I learn another lesson today, do not cut the spike until it is brown. What happens if you cut when it is still green?
Thanks

Audrey

It will then turn brown and definitely not bloom again ;-)

It will not bloom again from THAT spike, but with the proper care and conditions it will eventually put out many more spikes to delight you :-)

Julie

Its an infracta. It appears to be growing something green at the tip of 2 previously bloomed spikes; inside the spent "sheath". Have a couple of new spikes that haven't bloomed yet so this plant is still in a bloom cycle. Its the strangest thing I've ever seen. Have many masdes but never saw that. I agree. I don't cut spikes until they are brown, even then, I only trim. I like to know what has bloomed previously. Its often hard to tell with masdes

My masdes have been outside until the heat wave hit. Wondering if the temp change triggered some odd behaviour. (?) I have been running this plant a little dryer than I normally do. I don't grow masdes in bark, but ran out of my preferred media and then it went into spike. Trying to get a pic but my camera is not cooperating on the macro setting. Going to post this question seperately. Can this be a kei kei? I though only dens and phals produced kei keis

Clara

Masdie impostor (or is it imposter?) will bloom from the same spike for months if not over a year. It will take a break, but then when you're least expecting it more buds pop out.

K

Hi Clara,

I looked up infracta on the Internet Orchid Species Picture Encyclopedia and am now jealous of that flower! According to Jay, it produces from 1 to 5 successive flowers per spike, and it is a cool to hot grower.

I've never seen keikis on Masdevallias, though I have on many other genera, like Oncidiums and Catasetinae, where it usually means that something's culturally wrong. I do grow my Masdevallias a bit dryer, as well, only watering when they're actually dry, but considering I pot in small clay pots, that's every two, sometimes three, days, and relative humidity in their growing area is near 70% at all times. I've found that they tend to like this kind of treatment and I've been rewarded with healthy, vigorous growths and no rot whatsoever. Could also be that they're on the low side of intermediate light.

Julie

Here is a link that might be useful: IOSPE - Masdevallia infracta

Masd. sprucei has successve blooms, too. Plus, it's cute as the dickens...

Also, Masd. vargasii.

Oh god...I'm going to end up with Masdevallias, again...I can tell...

-Cj

In fact...the ISOPE pic for Masd. sprucei is my dearly departed little guy... *sigh*

D'ya know how sad it is to look trhough ISOPE, and come across a pic you took and know the plant is dead? That happens a lot. I used to send Jay lots of pics.

-Cj

Here is a link that might be useful: Masd. Sprucei on ISOPE

Thanks for all the info!
Kevin, I'm glad you are ok. Is Klevin ok too?

I have many masdes but this infracta re-blooming took me by surprise. I grow them in lower end of catt light and on a west window, full light after 2pm. The open window cools them down at night. This is the best pic I could get. You can see a brand new spike in the background and the "weirdness" coming from the spent spike in the foreground. Nice surprise! Its happening to 2 and possibly a 3rd. As mentioned, I have been runnning this one dryer than I normally would.

{{gwi:192119}}

Clara

so jealous
the masde that i have (i think it is a hybrid with veitchii in it) one spike only blooms once

Yes, an infracta will bloom multiple times from the same spike, dried out and brown or otherwise. Mine stays in bloom year round, but then it has about 30 spikes on it. Laura

Both my Masdevallia pinocchio
{{gwi:192121}}
and my Masdevallia sernae-caroloi(I can't find any photos)have bloomed constantly off of the same spike.
The pinocchio has bloomed at least three times and the other one, I think four or five times.
I'm pretty sure that they're keepers! ;~)
I've only had one flower at a time, but that's fine with me.
At least they're growing and seem healthy!

Scott